We first meet Palpatine in his senator guise in a scene of Holo-Palpatine talking to Padme and co. in the Naboo palace, which establishes that he’s associated with Naboo, though it’s not made completely explicit until later.

My understanding is that Palpatine’s goal all movie is just to get the Trade Federation to invade his own planet as a kind of false-flag to generate sympathy and get himself elected. Nute Gunray is just a useful idiot.

I’ll rewatch the movie (and a few edits) tomorrow and see what I can contribute to the thread. Good work on the OP!